Metal lath having integral hem structure

ABSTRACT

A metal lath having an integral hem structure includes a main body. The main body is formed by enclosing the metal lath so that the main body has a ring-shaped side wall. The side wall defines an accommodating space therein. Two ends of the main body are formed with openings to communicate with the accommodating space, respectively. One of the openings is integrally formed with a hem around an end edge of the opening by bending. The hem is integrally formed with the metal lath, which can reduce production time and cost effectively and can prevent the user from being cut by the metal lath.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hemming structure of a metal lath, and more particularly to a metal lath having an integral hem structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A metal lath of metal sheets (or expanded-metal lath) has the advantages of being flexible and extensible, so it can be used for making a variety of high-quality metal products, such as a meshed supporting plate and a storage basket. However, the metal lath has a problem that its edge is too sharp. The user may be cut by the edge of the metal lath by accident. Therefore, in general, a strip is additionally clipped or welded to the edge of the metal lath so that the sharp edge of the metal lath can be covered or blocked by the strip to prevent the user from being cut. However, in such a structure that the edge of the metal lath is covered by the strip, in production, it is necessary to manufacture an additional strip matching the edge of the metal lath and then to perform a hemming operation separately. Therefore, the production cost and production time cannot be reduced effectively. The hemming structure of the external strip has a problem of falling off easily. There is still room for improvement in the hemming structure of the conventional metal lath.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a metal lath having an integral hem structure, which can reduce production time and cost effectively and can prevent the user from being cut by the metal lath.

In order to achieve the aforesaid object, the metal lath of the present invention comprises a main body. The main body is formed by enclosing the metal lath so that the main body has a ring-shaped side wall. The side wall defines an accommodating space therein. The side wall has an inner side surface facing the accommodating space and an outer side surface opposite to the inner side surface. The side wall has a plurality of through mesh apertures. Two ends of the main body are formed with a first opening and a second opening to communicate with the accommodating space, respectively. An end edge of the first opening is bent to form a hem. The hem has a curved section which is bent in a circular shape toward the side wall. A space is defined between the curved section and the side wall. The curved section is not in contact with the side wall. A distal end of the curved section has a plurality of ribbed portions that form the mesh apertures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view when the metal lath is jointed to form the main body;

FIG. 2 is a side view after the metal lath is jointed to form the main body;

FIG. 3 is a structural schematic view in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a structural schematic view in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a structural schematic view in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a structural schematic view showing the side wall that is bent into a square shape;

FIG. 8 is a structural schematic view showing the side wall that is bent into a triangular shape;

FIG. 9 is a structural schematic view showing the side wall that is bent into an elliptical shape;

FIG. 10 is a structural schematic view of the present invention manufactured into a storage basket;

FIG. 11 is a structural schematic view of the present invention manufactured into a storage bucket;

FIG. 12 is a structural schematic view of the present invention manufactured into a trophy-shaped storage bucket; and

FIG. 13 is another structural schematic view of the present invention manufactured into a storage basket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described portioned, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, a metal lath having an integral hem structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body 11. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the main body 11 is formed by enclosing the metal lath. After two sides of the metal lath are butted against each other, the junction of the two sides of the metal lath are welded and fixed to form the main body 11 so that the main body 11 has a ring-shaped side wall 12. In this embodiment, the side wall 12 is bent in a circular shape to surround an accommodating space 13 in the main body 11. Two ends of the main body 11 are formed with a first opening 14 and a second opening 15 to communicate with the accommodating space 13, respectively. The main body 11 of the metal lath is formed by directly stretching a metal sheet by using a metal lath machine to form a plurality of diamond-shaped mesh apertures 16. After the two sides of the main body 11 are butted, the side wall 12 has a plurality of through mesh apertures 16. The respective end edges of the first opening 14 and the second opening 15 are formed with a plurality of ribbed portions 161, 162 that form the mesh apertures 16.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the end edge of the first opening 14 is integrally formed with a hem 21 around the end edge of the opening by bending, so that the integral hem structure of the metal lath of the present invention is completed. The side wall 12 has an inner side surface 121 facing the accommodating space 13 and an outer side surface 122 facing outwardly. The hem 21 has a curved portion 22 that is bent in a circular shape toward the outer side surface 122 of the side wall 12. A space D is defined between the curved section 22 and the outer side surface 122 of the side wall 12. The curved section 22 is not in contact with the outer side surface 122 of the side wall 12. The distal end of the curved section 22 has the ribbed portions 161. The ribbed portions 161 are not in contact with the outer side surface 122 of the side wall 12, so that the ribbed portions 161 do not extend out to the inner side surface 121 of the side wall 12 via the mesh apertures 16 of the side wall 12. Thus, the integral hem structure of the metal lath provided by the present invention is completed.

Because the end edge of the first opening 14 of the main body 11 is integrally formed with the hem 21 by bending, so that the sharp edge of each ribbed portion 161 on the end edge of the opening can be bent and hidden to the inside of the hem 21. The curved portion 22 of the hem 21 and the ribbed portions 161 are not in contact with the outer side surface 122 of the side wall 12, thereby ensuring that the ribbed portions 161 do not extend out to the inner side surface 121 of the side wall 12 via the mesh apertures 161 of the side wall 12. Therefore, even if the user's hand stretches into the accommodating space 13 and touches the inner side surface 121 of the side wall 12, it does not feel a tingling sensation. There is no need for additional trimming or hemming work, thereby effectively preventing the user from being cut to ensure the safety of subsequent use. In actual production, it is no longer necessary to make additional strips matching the end edge of the opening, so that the manufacturing cost and time can be reduced greatly. Furthermore, the outer side surface 122 of the side wall 12 is bent to form the hem 21 in a circular shape. The hem 21 may directly form a lug structure to facilitate the use of this invention.

Furthermore, in the metal lath provided by the present invention, the hem 21 is integrally formed with the metal lath of the main body 11 by bending. Therefore, there is no problem of falling off, and the metal lath product has an excellent appearance and texture.

FIG. 5 shows a metal lath having an integral hem structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is described hereinafter. When the hem 21 around the end edge of the opening is integrally formed by bending, the curved section 22 is bent into a circular shape toward the outer side surface 122 of the side wall 12. A space D is defined between the curved section 22 and the outer side surface 122 of the side wall 12. The curved section 22 is not in contact with the outer side surface 122 of the side wall 12. The distal end of the curved section 22 has the ribbed portions 161. The ribbed portions 161 of the curved section 22 are curvedly tangential to and in contact with the outer side surface 122 of the side wall 12. After the ribbed portions 161 are tangential to the outer side surface 122 of the side wall 12, they are bent along the inner edge of the hem 21 with the same curvature. By the ribbed portions 161 being tangential to the outer side surface 122 of the side wall 12, it is ensured that the ribbed portions 161 do not extend out to the inner side surface 121 of the side wall 12 via the mesh apertures 16 of the side wall 12, so that the sharp edge of each ribbed portion 161 on the end edge of the opening can be bent and hidden to the inside of the hem 21. Similarly, the second embodiment can reduce production time and cost effectively, and can prevent the user from being cut by the edge of the metal lath.

FIG. 6 shows a metal lath having an integral hem structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the third embodiment and the second embodiment is described hereinafter. When the hem 21 around the end edge of the opening is integrally formed by bending, the hem 21 is bent toward the inner side surface 121 of the side wall 12, and the curved section 22 of the hem 21 is bent inwardly to be located at the inner circumference of the first opening 14. In the third embodiment, a space D is defined between the curved section 22 and the inner side surface 121 of the side wall 12. The curved section 22 is not in contact with the inner side surface 121 of the side wall 12. The ribbed portions 161 of the curved section 22 are curvedly tangential to and in contact with the inner side surface 121 of the side wall 12. After the ribbed portions 161 are tangential to the inner side surface 121 of the side wall 12, they are bent along the inner edge of the hem 21 with the same curvature. The ribbed portions 161 do not extend out to the outer side surface 122 of the side wall 12 via the mesh apertures 16 of the side wall 12, so that the sharp edge of each ribbed portion 161 on the end edge of the opening can be bent and hidden to the inside of the hem 21. Similarly, the third embodiment can reduce production time and cost effectively, and can prevent the user from being cut by the edge of the metal lath.

However, it should be emphasized that the shape of the side wall 12 of the main body 11 of the present invention is not limited to a circular shaped. The present invention may bend the side wall 12 of the main body 11 into a square shape (as shown in FIG. 7), a triangular shape (as shown in FIG. 8), an elliptical shape (as shown in FIG. 9) or one of other geometric shapes, and then a hem 21 around the end edge of the upper opening is integrally formed by bending, so that an integral hem structure of a metal lath of the present invention is manufactured.

Furthermore, FIG. 10 shows a metal lath having an integral hem structure provided by the present invention. A supporting plate 31 is connected to the second opening 15 at the lower end of the main body 11 for closing the second opening 15 and blocking the ribbed portions 162 located at the end edge of the second opening, thereby forming a storage basket structure with one end opening, or a storage bucket structure having a higher height as shown in FIG. 11; or a trophy-shaped storage bucket structure having a tapered and curved lower end as shown in FIG. 12.

As shown in FIG. 13, the present invention may use a die for forming an integral ring-shaped side wall 12 by stamping. With the die stamping, a bottom 17 is integrally formed with the side wall 12 at the second opening 15 for blocking the second opening 15 while the side wall 12 is formed. It is also possible to form a storage basket structure having an opening at one end.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described portioned in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A metal lath having an integral hem structure, comprising: a main body, the main body being formed by enclosing the metal lath so that the main body has a ring-shaped side wall, the side wall defining an accommodating space therein, the side wall having an inner side surface facing the accommodating space and an outer side surface opposite to the inner side surface, the side wall having a plurality of through mesh apertures, two ends of the main body being formed with a first opening and a second opening to communicate with the accommodating space respectively, an end edge of the first opening being bent to form a hem, the hem having a curved section which is bent in a circular shape toward the side wall, a space is defined between the curved section and the side wall, the curved section being not in contact with the side wall, a distal end of the curved section having a plurality of ribbed portions that form the mesh apertures.
 2. The metal lath as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curved section is bent toward the outer side surface of the side wall, the ribbed portions of the curved section are curvedly tangential to and in contact with the outer side surface of the side wall, the ribbed portions do not extend out to the inner side surface of the side wall via the mesh apertures of the side wall.
 3. The metal lath as claimed in claim 2, wherein after the ribbed portions are tangential to the outer side surface of the side wall, they are bent along an inner edge of the hem with a same curvature.
 4. The metal lath as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curved section is bent toward the inner side surface of the side wall, the ribbed portions of the curved section are curvedly tangential to and in contact with the inner side surface of the side wall, and the ribbed portions do not extend out to the outer side surface of the side wall via the mesh apertures of the side wall.
 5. The metal lath as claimed in claim 4, wherein after the ribbed portions are tangential to the inner side surface of the side wall, they are bent along an inner edge of the hem with a same curvature.
 6. The metal lath as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second opening is connected with a supporting plate for closing the second opening. 